Me Time

Affirmations
I consistently take care of myself
I surround myself with positive and encouraging people.
I deserve to have a joyful and abundant life.

-from "Moms to Moms: Parenting Wisdom from Moms in Recovery" by Barbara Joy

How do you spend time taking care of yourself?

This is a hard question to answer.  Not because I don't know the answer, on the contrary, I was able to answer it immediately, but because I'm afraid for the flak I'm going to catch about my opinion on it.  I think self-care is very important.  You know the old saying, "if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy?"  I really believe in that, even when I was drinking and using.  I've always taken time for myself.  Of course, in the old days, it's what I used to justify my drinking and using and now it looks totally different.  Writing this blog, for instance, is a way for me to take care of myself, to do something for myself.  I'm currently looking for a job- and of course, we need the money, but a bigger part of it is that it will give me a sense of purpose for myself again, something I don't get just from staying home and raising the children.  Right now, the ways I take care of myself are pretty simple.  I go to meetings, first and foremost.  Almost daily.  They keep me sober, and they keep me connected to the people I need to be connected to.  I facebook, talk, or text my sober friends daily.  It doesn't take long, and it gives me the boost I need to stay strong in my sobriety.  At night, after the kids are in bed, I watch (or more accurately, fall asleep to) a DVR'd episode of a favorite grown-up tv show.  About once I month I get my hair cut or my nails done.  Do these things cost money?  Absolutely.  But what I get out of them is more than worth it.